14 Nov 2025
The deputy leader of St Albans district council has insisted that imposing parking charges in Harpenden has been seen as a good thing in the town.
Speaking at last week’s public realm committee meeting, chair Cllr Helen Campbell, who is also SADC’s lead on parking, responded to suggestions that residents and shoppers were “putting up with” the fees.
“I think, actually, what is happening is that people who thought it would be awful are realising that it’s not, and we know that because we hear from them…
“People who are staying longer are using the car parks, which is what we want them to do, and people who are nipping in and out of shops are now able to find a space.
“Previously, people were driving round and round and round, looking for a free space, but those spaces were taken up by people who were staying quite a long time. More of those people are now in the car parks. It’s a win-win at the moment.
“I don’t accept that people are putting up with it at all. I think people have realised that, actually, it’s been a good thing.”
Her comments were in response to pleas by Harpenden councillor Sue Griffiths not to increase fees by an additional 50p.
Back in July, council leader Cllr Paul de Kort made similar claims when he told councillors: “There’s certainly many people in Harpenden who have changed their mind quite considerably about the parking charges. An awful lot of businesses have said to me, ‘well, I thought it was going to be difficult and I opposed it, but now, actually, I haven’t noticed a difference’.
“Others said it’s been much better. I can see some councillors in my group nodding because they’ve had the same experience, particularly people who work in business.
“Also, residents have said the same. Many have said, ‘I now come in and shop in the centre because I can find a parking space’.”
This prompted reporters from the St Albans Times to visit the town and ask 11 different businesses for their views – none were in favour of the charges and none agreed with Cllr de Kort’s comments.
It seems the situation has not changed for local retailers.
Fiona Thomas from Oui Boutique said: “We are still hearing that it’s putting customers off coming into Harpenden, particularly if you live in the villages. Why Helen Campbell thinks it’s a great that customers can park with ease it backs the opposing view that customers aren’t coming to park as there are lots of spaces available. As we approach the winter and presuming the bad weather is still to come I believe this will affect the retailers again.
“Helen has also proposed an increase to £2.75 per hour and believe that she has also stated that SADC has generated more money from this new scheme that they thought. I believe that any money generated by parking fees isn’t suppose to be profit-making so I would question why the new parking fees can’t be reduced.
“I would still like the payment charges to be in line with a similar town (rather than the city of St Albans) such as Berkhamsted which has a much lower hourly rate. One of the main issues is that mobile network coverage is not good in Harpenden and it’s difficult to log onto the app to pay for the parking.”
Elaine Bradford, who has led a campaign against the charges in the town, added: “I fear it is not about asking shoppers in Harpenden, it is about getting to the ones that are no longer shopping in Harpenden.
“She is clearly exaggerating claims or making it up to satisfy her own ends of continuing to use Harpenden as an ATM to fill the coffers caused by bad financial management within the council, as she is unable to confirm who has said it is a good idea and that they are happy amongst the independent businesses.
“SADC whilst refusing to meet with local businesses are at the same time looking at increasing the charges from £2.50 to £2.75 despite clear opposition to the parking charges from both Harpenden businesses and residents. The level of arrogance here from SADC is breathtaking.”
Town councillor Richard Scott said: “Councillor Helen Campbell’s recent statement regarding the supposed benefits and acceptance of her parking regime, imposed upon Harpenden against the express wishes of its residents and businesses, and without a democratic councillor vote, is fooling no-one.
“I directly and publicly invite Cllr Campbell to publish evidence to support her claims that Harpenden has fully accepted and supports her regime of parking charges. Local residents will draw their own conclusions if convincing evidence is not forthcoming.
“If Cllr Campbell, and indeed council leader Paul de Kort, who made a similar evidence-free claim in a statement to St Albans district council earlier this year, were so confident in these beliefs, why did they refuse to meet the 50 Harpenden businesses who wrote to them earlier this year asking for a meeting to discuss the negative impacts of the SADC parking charges?
“None of this adds up. Except of course for the revenue SADC are earning from their Harpenden parking charges.
“In the meantime, the Harpenden businesses that I speak to remain deeply concerned that the SADC parking charges are deterring visitors to our High Street and leading to shorter, more transactional visits amongst many shoppers.
“We now know that the initial parking charges were merely the thin end of the wedge. SADC have recently proposed a further 10 per centrise in parking charges to help fill the latest hole in their budget.
“English law clearly states that parking revenues are meant to cover the costs of operating parking services. They are not permitted to subsidise other council services and overheads.
“Harpenden Town Council remains committed to support our High Street and its wonderful array of independent business. In contrast to SADC, we believe in listening, evidence and facts.
“This is why we have commissioned a market research firm to engage with local residents and businesses to understand in detail the impact of the SADC parking regime. This survey will take place during November and December and will be published in January.”
Speaking directly to the St Albans Times, Cllr Campbell defended her comments.
“The evidence is clear. More than eight months since on-street charging was brought in, Harpenden’s unoccupied retail units are down to 1.6 per cent from 2.81 per centin the last quarter before the charging was introduced. That is considerably less than the district average and only one tenth of the most recent figures for the East of England average.
“Indeed, two new outlets – an artisan baker and an interior design shop – have opened just off the high street in the past few weeks and, in place of two of the banks that left Harpenden long before parking charges came in, you can now find a pharmacy and a furniture shop. All these businesses clearly see a future in this still, happily, thriving high street.
“Residents and visitors tell us informally they can now find a space much more easily than before, that they are sometimes making decisions to walk or cycle, and that enforcement is working well. Those quickly popping into a retailer now don’t need to circle around, choking up the air with emissions and adding to the congestion, and those that want to, for example, use the hairdresser or to have lunch are using the nearby car parks that are appropriate for the longer stay.
“This is not to say that high street retailers up and down the country are not under pressure, including in areas where charging for parking has been usual for years, but it is unfair business rates, the Government’s hike to their NI contribution and the huge swing to online shopping that are creating the stress.
“Without a sharp change in direction by the current government, I would not be surprised if some high street businesses across the district find operating under this weight too much, but it will not be the on-street charges that are to blame, nor removing them the solution.
“Of course, a small number of individuals, with their own agendas, are seeking to keep this whole debate going for their own political ends, when residents are just going about their daily lives without a fuss and Harpenden is thriving.
“But you won’t see people countering the increasingly thin narrative on social media, because they’re sick of being attacked for observing from the start that paying for parking, and that’s all manner of parking, not just on-street, is actually quite normal, and wouldn’t and hasn’t damaged the town’s livelihood.
“We would all like something for free or heavily subsidised but that isn’t possible in a world where central government starves local authorities of funds.
“We have a council to run for the benefit of the entire district and have to make the books balance with less money coming from the Government than ever before.”
